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| Rays pitcher Matt Moore |
I looked at the top 25 prospects and assigned them each a point value; No. 1 prospect gets 25 points, No. 2 gets 24 points, etc.
Five fantasy teams earned points and here’s how they panned out. Interestingly enough, four of the five teams were in the 2011 playoffs.
5. Sex Panthers: 14 points
The Panthers may finally have this prospect come through. She thought that Jesus Montero would make his mark as a Yankee last season, but Russell Martin came through for Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Montero lay in the shadows.
Now, after a blockbuster deal that will likely have Montero cracking the everyday starting lineup in Seattle very soon, the Sex Panthers will have a fantasy stud at catcher.
But after that, her minor league system is in need of some work.
4. JimmyJam Slammers: 21 points
Last season, the Slammers would have been at the top of this list with guys like Erik Hosmer, Mike Trout and Jeremy Hellickson, the AL Rookie of the Year.
But Hosmer and Hellickson are no longer rookies, so they do not receive MLB prospect rankings; and Mike Trout, ranked No. 3 on MLB’s prospect list, was part of a trade to the Big League Choo that sent back current Phillies pitcher Jonathan Papelbon.
So, all that’s left is the No. 5 prospect, Shelby Miller, a young Cardinals pitcher, who is a strikeout stud. He was your typical Texas fastball hurler, but he’s developed a full arsenal of pitches and he could see action in the Major Leagues as soon as this year.
3. Big League Choo: 23 points
The only team on this list not to make the playoffs is Big League Choo, and considering what he took over less than a year ago, he has to be happy to at least be on this list.
It’s a sign that he made the moves to get ready for the future. Mike Trout is the player garnering all 23 points, being ranked No. 3 in fantasy baseball. He’s a five-tool player who had a chance to play in the majors last season with varied success. He should pan out to be a the Choo’s starting center fielder for many years to come.
2. N.J. Bombers: 33 points
The Bombers has four players cracking the top 25, with Arizona pitcher Trevor Bauer pulling in the highest ranking at No. 9. Drafted in 2011, the right-handed starting pitcher could make it to the Majors as soon as this season.
So can his 13th-ranked prospect, Yankee Manny Banuelos. Drafted in 2008, the lefty has been the prized possession of the Yankees. They’ve been sent offers, but they have held on to Banuelos no matter what. He could make his debut in 2012, too, giving the Bombers’ key starter, Jered Weaver a counterpart.
The Rockies future starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who came to Colorado in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, also may figure into the mix. He’s ranked No. 24 on the prospect list.
The fourth prospect for the Bombers isn’t a pitcher, it’s a catcher, and one of the top catching prospects in baseball. Travis D’Arnaud could supplant the Blue Jays current starter J.P. Arencibia.
D’Arnaud, who was part of the Roy Halladay trade, batted .311 with 21 HRs and 78 RBs in the Eastern League (Double-A) last season. He will be a stud for the Jays, and of course, the Bombers.
1. You’re Freaking Out: 97 points
Yeah, 97 points spread out amongst six players.
Ridiculous, and yet, very cool.
I think we know the Outs’ minor league keepers this season. With six players in MLB’s top 25 prospects, the Outs future is looking bright.
Clearly the best on this list is the No. 1 overall player, Rays pitcher Matt Moore. He’s got it all and the Outs made sure he picked him up last season. Moore was 12-3 in the minors with a 1.92 ERA and 210 strikeouts. He pitched in three games in the Majors, too, including one amazing start where he struck out six and allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings, leading the Rays to a 9-0 win in Game 1 of the ALDS.
He will have a great chance to give the Rays back-to-back Rookie of the Year award winners after Jeremy Hellickson won it last season. And for the Outs, that would be huge.
If No. 1 wasn’t enough, the Outs have the No. 2 player, too. The Nats’ prized bat, Bryce Harper, slugged his way through Single-A last season, but struggled a bit in Double-A. Still, some say that Harper could make the Opening Day roster.
Harper is part of the No. 1 minor league system in baseball, the Nationals, so it’s only appropriate that he’s also part of the JLB’s top minor league system, the Outs.
Moore and Harper are among several prospects on this team, and even outside this top 25 list, you’ll find young guys like Jordan Zimmeran, Mat Latos, Yonder Alonso, Freddie Freeman and Ike Davis on the Outs roster.
Cracking the top 25, are Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, Tigers pitcher Jacob Turner and Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Machado has struggled in the minor leagues, but he is still considered a great prospect at shortstop. Mesoraco may have a brighter future for the Outs after his strong 2011 season in the minors, batting .289 with 15 HRs and 71 RBIs. The Punxsutawney, Pa., native, who I actually covered when he was in high school, should crack the Reds starting lineup this season. He should be part of the Reds return to the top of the NL Central.
Turner and Skaggs also should arrive in the Majors this season, and alongside Moore, they will complement the Outs already strong pitching staff that includes Dan Haren, Jon Lester, Roy Oswalt, Justin Masterson, Mat Latos and Shawn Marcum. Only Mat Latos qualifies for the minor league program (2 years of experience or less), so only three players out of Haren, lester, Oswalt, Masterson and Marcum will return for the Outs in 2012 via keepers.
That means the three prospects could play a key role to sustaining the Outs pitching staff that accumulated 114 wins (ranked third in JLB), and 1,676 strikeouts (fourth).
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